“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps. 73:26. I had a heart attack fourteen years ago, and since then, have often quoted this verse as a prescription for any heart or chest pains. I used it a lot recently, as I have felt poorly and extra tired.

Last week Betty made an appointment with the doctor for me. I waited until Wednesday to go in so I could do the Tuesday marathon in Vista and Oceanside. Wednesday morning the doctor hooked me to an EKG, got in my face and said, “You need to go to the Emergency Room now.” I had congestive heart failure.

Wednesday was about getting blood thinner into me, draining fluids in my lungs etc. Thursday was tests - echocardiogram and nuclear stress. Friday was the procedure which included a sonogram type probe down the esophagus to determine if there were blood clots in the heart (when the heart is fibrillating, they tend to form and if they shock the heart with clots, it produces a stroke) and then they paddled my heart and it went into the proper rhythm.

The heart doctors wanted to keep me in the hospital until my blood was thin enough, but the hospital was overcrowded so I went home Saturday with enough medicine to stock a pharmacy and also shots to give myself twice a day in the belly fat. I am now recuperating at home with Dr. Betty hovering around me, limiting visitors, etc. I am anxious to drive and get back to work, but another week of this confinement has been decreed. Ugh!

The only good thing about all this is that if I have the honor to be martyred for Jesus, I will die quicker in the process. Meanwhile, we are all waiting a little longer, “until the full number of their (martyrs) fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” Rev. 6:11.

This waiting is to be active waiting as we sons of God set creation free from its bondage to decay (Rom. 8:18-21), God crushes the head of Satan under our feet (Rom.16:20), and we extend the Kingdom of God into every part of society where we have a presence and voice. What a privilege to re-present Jesus our King in us.

One of the great blessings in my life is being associated with young dynamic servants of God. My friend Alan Haghighi heads this list of champions. He wrote an incredible note on Facebook titled, “If you wanna celebrate Easter, watch Pornography.” This is classic and I have attached it for those who are interested.

As the Lord spoke to Joshua when they entered the Kingdom Land, so He speaks to us: “…I will give you every place where you set your foot….Be strong and courageous….Be strong and very courageous…. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night…..Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1-9